| And in keeping with the harsh financial climate in the Scottish game, the trio of McCall, assistant manager Gordon Chisholm and coach Tony Docherty have agreed to wage cuts in exchange for increased job security.
The three were already tied to Tannadice until 2006, but have now pledged their futures to the club for 24 months beyond then.
In their first full season in charge, they have steered United to the top half of the SPL and that’s what has persuaded chairman Eddie Thompson to prolong their stays.
“I am delighted to have secured the services of the youngest and brightest management team in Scottish football for a further four years,” he said at a Press conference today.
“Ian and his team have met all of their targets this year and the improvement in the playing side is there for all to see. He has done exactly the sort of job that I recruited him to do and it’s important that this is followed through on a long-term basis.”
There was also praise for the manager for the way in which he supported the necessary tightening of the financial reins at Tannadice. Several senior players have already accepted pay reductions in exchange for longer deals and now he has followed suit.
“We have made no secret of the fact that we are not immune from the financial pressures affecting Scottish football and the changed circumstances that we all now find ourselves in. Ian and his team have fully understood this and we have tried, successfully I think, to combine the need for financial stability with our ambitions for the future,” added the chairman.
Ian himself stressed there was no way he would have asked players to take less money if he had not been prepared to do the same himself.
While he is reasonably satisfied with the progress made since he took charge at the end of January last year, he did not go overboard about it and wants bigger and better over the next four years.
“We have made progress and could finish fifth, but we have not done well in a cup. I would say we have done decently well and I want to continue to improve. I am excited to be getting the chance to do that,” he said.
“I have major ambitions for this club and I am encouraged that these are shared by the chairman. We both know the costs must be controlled and reduced, but, equally, we both want the team to continue to improve and challenge at the very top.” |
